By Bill Palmer

Redstone Review

LYONS – Lyons is a closely knit small town but its residents face many of the same problems plaguing today’s world economy. The Lyons Community Foundation’s advisory board recognized that there was a great need in our community for a way to lend a helping hand to individuals and families with an urgent need. That’s where the Lyons Community Foundation’s Basic Needs and Emergency Fund, BN&EF, comes in.

The BN&EF is administered with great diligence, care, and compassion by Claire McNulty-Drewes, the pastor at the Lyons Community Church. This effort is a nonreligious service to the community and the only requirement is that those who are helped must live in our community and have a genuine need.

Since its inception in July 2008, the fund has been able to assist people by paying for utilities, medical expenses, and other short-term needs. “It’s not just for people who are poor,” said Pastor Drewes. “Anyone who has an emergency that could be helped with a little cash can come to us.” The fund has even helped with a funeral, and has found that sometimes all that’s needed is to pay a portion of an overdue utility bill long enough to keep it from going to a collection agency.

But it’s more than just money. Pastor Drewes has been able to work with those seeking assistance and with local businesses to get items or services donated. “We get about ten requests for help each month,” she said, noting that the service is always completely confidential. One interesting result of this effort is that people who in the past may have simply left Lyons when things got too tight have been able to stay in town and stabilize their lives and those of their children.

One need that is currently not being met is transportation. Lyons is in the unfortunate

situation of being difficult to live in without a private car, and has limited accessibility to public transportation. Pastor Drewes’ dream is to have a way to help Lyons area residents with short-term transportation needs and she is searching for ideas for how to accomplish that goal.

The BN&EF’s funds are obviously limited and that’s why the committee managing this fund has established some guidelines. Rent and prescription drugs are not supported. The maximum assistance is currently $400 or $200 if the fund balance is below $2,000. Individuals and families can make up to two requests in a year. If these individuals or families find that they need additional assistance they must visit a counselor, a service which is offered at no cost. The counselor will explore the challenges and try to find some longer-term solutions or will serve as an advocate for other resources. Quite a few of those seeking additional assistance take advantage of this service, although some don’t. “I think their pride gets in the way,” says Pastor Drewes.

Another assistance program offered to the Lyons community is the food bank. The BN&EF and food bank are separate programs, although with different funds the Lyons Community Church manages both. The all-volunteer Lyons Food Bank is the first agency in years that Community Food Share has added to those it works with. In 2009, the LCF granted the food bank $3,886.26 for membership in the Community Food Share, and to purchase a refrigerator, freezer, and coolers to transport food to Lyons from the Community Food Share in Longmont. Each Wednesday from 3:30 to 5 p.m., operating from the Lyons Community Church on the corner of Main Street and Fourth Avenue, the Lyons Food Bank distributes food to anyone in need. “We have great volunteers on this program,” said Pastor Drewes, “led by Nancy Reckling and Monique Sawyer-Lange.” Last November, she notes, the food bank provided food to 175 families and are currently distributing about 25 gallons of milk per week.

The LCF continues to support the BN&EF. In 2009, the LCF contributed more than $11,000 to the BN&EF, partially from several grants to the LCF that were designated for the BN&EF: $5,000 from the Szaloczi family’s Blue Mountain Foundation, $2,500 from the McDavid Foundation (requested by Lyons residents and McDavid Foundation directors Ann and Dean Haakenson), and $705 from the proceeds of a High Street Concert in December. The BN&EF has made great strides in just two years and has been able to assist many families. “We still have a lot of work to do” said Pastor Drewes, “but we really want to celebrate our successes.”

Donations to the BN&EF can be made through the LCF or directly to the church. Contributions of food or funds are also needed for the Lyons Food Bank. For more information about the Lyons Community Foundation, please visit the website at www.lyonscf.com. For information about the Basic Needs and Emergency Fund, or to apply for assistance, contact Pastor Claire McNulty-Drewes at 303-532-6840, or claire@lyonscommunitychurch.com.

Bill Palmer is the chairman of the Lyons Community Foundation Advisory Board. He can be reached at 303-823-8284 (office); 303-859-4434 (cell) or bill@lyonscf.com.

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